I just saw the movie Fifty Shades of Grey. Is the kind of relationship the two main characters have healthy?

No! Fifty Shades (both the book and movie) is full of examples of emotional abuse, including stalking (Christian uses a phone and computer to track and follow Anastasia), intimidation (Christian’s threats to punish Anastasia if she doesn’t do as he says), and isolation (Christian demands most of Anastasia’s time, wanting her to move in with him and limiting her time with friends and family). Additionally, there are many scenes in the movie that involve sexual violence.

It’s important for you and others to be aware that while the behaviors of the main characters can seem appropriate (because they are in a popular book and movie), they are actually inappropriate, and signs of Intimate Partner Violence or IPV. IPV is a very serious health problem that affects both girls and guys in different sex or same sex relationships. If you are worried that you are in a current or past relationship with a partner who is emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive, or causing you psychological harm, talk to a trusted adult and make an appointment with your health care provider.

Young Men’s Health (YMH) is produced by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. The purpose of the website is to provide carefully researched health information to teenage boys and young men.